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[Seacrets]

I'll kind of play devil's advocate here. We as consumers don't question quality, mileage etc., we question the greed of the industry and the salaries and benefit packages paid out and how the bailout money will be used. The average auto worker's hourly rate and benefit package is approx. $71 per hr. There's a reason why the more recent car manufacturers have built plants in the south, to distance themselves from union demands and ridiculous hourly rates. I'm insulted when a CEO says, I'll work for a dollar this year when he made $21 million last year. Three CEOS (with total salaries of over $60 mill. annually) show up in D.C. in their corporate jets and ask for money without as much as a game plan, and then the amount is bumped up an additional $9 billion in two weeks. We, as consumers will be paying back the bailout money, not the big three.
How about Detroit gives up the big three, they restructure and move to the south with a wage and benefit package of about $35 per hour and build good, quality cars and trucks at a fair price.

[Mac_Attack]

Here is a story one of our news anchors here in Detroit did on the comparison of wages. You'll see the UAW is doing what they can to even the pay.



Guy Compares UAW, Non-UAW Pay Scales


POSTED: Friday, December 12, 2008
UPDATED: 7:14 pm EST December 12, 2008



DETROIT -- On Capitol Hill, when they start talking automotive wages politics pollutes the process. They don't compare apples with apples -- they throw rotten fruit. Instead, we’ll try to get to the meat -- is there a wage gap and how big is it really?
When automakers went to Capitol Hill last week they opened their books for congress.
Instant Feedback: UAW Vs. Non-UAW Pay Scales
Ford compared its cost for an hour of labor and the cost at non-union plants.
United Auto Workers pay now stands at $29 an hour against $26 an hour for the transplants -- a $3 gap.
The cost of vacation, overtime costs and the jobs bank adds $14 for the domestics and $9 for non-union.
Then comes the biggie legacy costs, the cost of retiree health care: $16 for the domestics, just $3 for the transplants.
They are close to parity on active health care FICA, insurance and worker's comp, 12 versus 11.
Total it all up, wages plus benefits. One hour of labor costs $71 for the Detroit Three. Versus $49 for the transplants, a $22 an hour difference.
That $70 figure is the one Republican’s like to quote so often in those testy hearings. Republicans insisted Thursday night that the field must be level before taxpayers invest with a loan, it fell apart over timing.
“What my colleagues...when will we actually get there,” said Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker.
Under the UAW contract, the gap begins to close next year.
When the new retiree health care plan, the VEBA kicks it, parity in legacy costs is achieved and the gap narrows and shrinks by 60 percent.
Once they begin hiring again, new hires come in at lower wages and benefits. When one-fifth of the workforce at Ford Motor Co. is in the new bracket the average wage falls another $5.
The new inclusive wage is $52 an hour for the Detroit three and $49, just a $3 an hour gap.
The UAW says it will consider ways to accelerate the changes and cut to parity but wants to know what parity really is before committing. “I had indicated to Senator Corker if we use Toyota as a benchmark,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “Then our research department was prepared to go to Toyota go in and review their wage structure.”
Gettelfinger insists Toyota actually pays its workers more when you include bonuses, about $8,000 a worker. He’s right, the average straight wage is about $30 an hour but analysts said it doesn't address the gap issue because if American companies were making a profit, their worker bonuses could be even more lucrative.
Copyright 2008 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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Guy Compares UAW, Non-UAW Pay Scales

POSTED: Friday, December 12, 2008
UPDATED: 7:14 pm EST December 12, 2008

[bradford]

If ya can't compete, trim your fat! It pisses me off to give money to people who are inept and can't straighten out their own problems whether it be the auto manufacturers, banks, wannabe real estate tycoons, or the welfare check crowd. The Big Three has all kind of people who went to school and studied corporate finance, accounting, and management and get paid more than I make to figure this crap out. Hell, instead of bailing out these losers why doesn't the government give me a tax break for paying my mortgage on time (early usually, with additional principal), not carrying any credit card debt, driving a 15 year old truck, and all around living within my means? I guess I'm just Joe Middle Class who gets the SHAFT BIG ENOUGH FOR AN ELEPHANT TO FEEL IT!

"Hell, instead of bailing out these losers why doesn't the government give me a tax break for paying my mortgage on time (early usually, with additional principal), not carrying any credit card debt, driving a 15 year old truck, and all around living within my means?", Bradford.

WELL PUT !!!!!! No one would be there to help me out if I coudn't make a payment or was close to bankruptcy. I have to work my butt off to keep up the balancing act, but I make it work and stay within my means for my family.

[shubey61]

I couldn't have said it better!

[Monkey Butler]

I'm not sure wether it makes more sense to bail out the auto makers or see what happens if they are allowed to fail but I don't think the unions are doing a good job of making it's case. Unless you are already drinking the UAW Kool-Ade the rhetoric doesn't buy much sympathy.

[cterrebonne]

uaw needs to take a seat, end of story, i would like to say though i currently have a rental car, an impala and it is actually a nice car, i would buy it over a jap wagon. especially for the price.